Shoe fastening



April 24. 1928.

J. WElNGARTEN SHOE FASTENING Filed 0012. 24. 1927 removed when desired.

Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

JOSHUA WEINGARTEN, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENN SYLV ANIA.

SHOE FASTENING.

Application filed October 24, 1927. Serial No. 228,807.

This invention relates to shoe fastenings and has for its object the provision of a shoe lace which will effectually hold a shoe closed closely, neatly and comfortably upon the foot of the wearer and which will need no readjustment after the shoe has once beenclosed,but will permit the shoe to be readily The invention is illustrated in the accompanyin drawing and will be hereinafter fully described, the novel features being particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe having my improved lace ap lied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lace on a larger scale;. Fig. 3-is a plan view of the tip end of the lace and the holder applied thereto; and

Fig. 4 is a detail showing. the lace in elevation and the holder in section.

The shoe'l may bealow shoe, as shown rovided with the or a high shoe, and is usual lacing eyelets 2. he shoe may be of leather, canvas, or other suitable material,

' and it is to be understood that while the invention is intended more particularly for closing slices, it may be employed wherever two edges provided with rows of openings are to be brought into closed relation. The

111083 is a strand 'of elastic material prefer-- ably circular in cross section and of proper diameter to pass easily through the eyelets 2 when being applied. To one end of the lace is attached a stop or anchor consisting of a thinflat disk 4 having a central opening through which the strand is inserted, the extremity of the strand being clamped or histened to the disk 4, or otherwise secured against withdrawal. The opposite end of the strand is provided with the usual tip 6 i whereby it may be inserted in and draw the eyelets successively to be laced back and forth, as shown in Fig. 1. When the lace has been properly threaded through a hoti tom eyelet, the anchoring disk 4 will lie between the flap and tongue of the shoe so that the end of the disk will be held in the eyelet without causing any discomfort to the wear er of theshoe. The tip end of the lace will extend beyond the to of the shoe and may drop over the edge 0 the shoe. To prevent v withdrawal of the free end of the lace, I engage a guard or holder 7 therewith close to t e shoe, the guard, like the anchoring disk 4, being of such size that it cannot pass through an eyelet. The 'guard or holder consists of a short length of wire bent into U- form and having the sides of the U crlmp'ed, as shown at 8,. whereby convolutlons are roduced defining alternate contracted and expanddd portions in the width of the holder. The ends of holder diverge, as shown at 9, and the lace may, therefore, be readily en aged between the sides of the holder. The ace, having been engaged between the sides of the holder, is moved into the bight thereof as shown in \full lines in Fig. 2, and will then be retained between the closed end of the holder and the intermediate co'nt'racted portion thereof, although the .bcen obtained, the free end portion of the lace is bent over the contracted portion 10.0f the holder and engaged through the expanded portion between the same and extremities .of'the sides of the holder, as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. The holder will thereby be so mounted on the lace that it will not move under ordinary strains and, conse quently, unlacing of the shoe cannot occur unless the wearer'deliberately applies sufiicicnt force to release the lace. Inasmuch as the'lace is of elastic material, it will yield to permit removal or donning of the shoe and will at once retract to hold the shoe to-the foot in a neat fit. After the holder has been once adjusted, the lacing will need no attention unless renewal should be required after long-continued use.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new and desire tosecure by Let- ..ters Patent of the United States, is

A. fastening device comprising a lacing stnand, an anchoring element at one end of the strand, and a guard consisting of a U'- shaped member having its width alternately expanded and contracted, the lacing strand passing through an expanded portion of the guard in one direction, over a contracted portion, andthrough a second expanded portion in the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof-I hereunto afiix my 

